Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Last year, I received an email from the Museum of New York requesting approval to include a project from UniverCity in a special forthcoming exhibit on smaller housing ideas. Today, the exhibit is opening but sadly, too many local commitments prevented me from attending the opening reception.

My contribution is the suite within a suite...which was included in a number of projects at SFU's UniverCity. Just as some single family houses have a basement suite to provide affordable housing and help pay the mortgage , these two and three bedroom suites had a 'lock-off' suite that could be rented out or ultimately incorporated into the balance of the unit. I saw this as a way for households to afford the larger unit that they might ultimately need by renting out a portion. It's like a 'basement suite in the sky' or as the Province newspaper dubbed it, 'A mortgage helper in the sky'

In 2007, this idea was selected by the Urban Land Institute for publication given its innovative approach. I am delighted that the organizers of the Museum exhibit learned about it and chose to include it in the show. I'm just sorry I can't be there to attend the opening and see the other ideas on display. Here's some more information about the exhibition.

MAKING ROOM is a CHPC initiative
that brings together cutting-edge housing policy and demographic
research with pragmatic policy recommendations that would help to
develop some brand new, legal and safe housing options for 21st century New York City.
We are delighted to announce that these cutting-edge ideas will now be showcased at the Making Room Museum Exhibition,
opening on January 23rd at the Museum of the City of New York. To
attend the exclusive exhibition reception, taking place on January 22nd
at 6pm, email your name to RSVP@mcny.org.

Over the last three years, CHPC has been dedicated to exploring new
housing ideas so that New York City can Make Room for its whole
population.

We developed a unique data model to
examine how New Yorkers are being accommodated in housing today. The
unexpected finding was a predominance of non-traditional households
struggling to fit themselves into a housing stock designed and built for
traditional households. New trends in immigration, demographics,
technology, and the economy are reshaping how people live.

Almost
half of New York adults are now single, creating a need for new types of
living arrangements. Only 18% of our housing is occupied by a nuclear
family (two parents and children under age 25). Nevertheless, New York
City housing regulations continue to encourage homes and apartments
designed for nuclear families; single family units with mostly two and
three bedrooms. With unmet demand for more diverse housing choices
growing, especially for the millions of single adults, the Making Room
project revealed that more and more people are turning to the improvised
housing market, often living in illegal and dangerous situations.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

I woke up this morning and checked Vancouver Sun headlines only to discover that a man for whom I had the greatest admiration had passed away. Frank Ogden....Dr. Tomorrow. I first met him when I started working in Coal Harbour and like many others, was absolutely fascinated when he invited me onto his houseboat and gave me a tour of his floating laboratory.

I often thought of him, especially when reading a book, since as the author of The Last Book You Will Ever Read, he was truly ahead of his time.

So often in life we think of people but don't get in touch with them. However, a couple of years ago I decided to try and track down the man I knew as Dr. Tomorrow to see if he was still alive and if so, what he thought of how the world had changed. I found him, and below is our initial exchange of emails:

Michael Geller<michaelarthurgeller@gmail.com>

18/11/2009

to Dr.Tomorrow

I remember you; do you remember me?

Frank Ogden, as the world keeps changing, I often think of you.
We met many years ago in Coal Harbour and I have often thought about
the things you said to me at the time. I am a Vancouver based
architect and property developer involved with the redevelopment of
the Bayshore property and a number of other developments around the
city at SFU, Steveston, and Kerrisdale.

I thought of you this morning and decided to see if you are still in
Vancouver and whether you take visitors! If so, I would love to
hook up again. cheers

FORGET THE MICHAEL GELLER?? IMPOSSIBLE.

HI MICHAEL,

THANKS FOR YOUR E-MAIL.

THIS ATTACHMENT IS THE FIRST "E-BOOK #1". I
HAVE 15 MORE IN A PACKAGE THAT IN ITS GUTENBERG FORMAT SOLD FOR
$150.00 I NOW SEND IT OUT FOR JUST $10.00 ALL IN THE DR TOMORROW
LIQUID PIXELS & LIGHT FORMAT. READ IT AND IF YOU WISH YOU
GET THE OTHER 14 BOOKS JUST AFTER YOU TALK TO PAY/PAL.

I RECENTLY SOLD MY HOUSE BOAT AS A "FLOATING HOME" BY
CHANGING THE NAME. SAVED THE PURCHASER (A YOUNG 33-YEAR OLD
LAWYER) $14,000. HE MADE AN OFFER I COULDN'T REFUSE.

IT WAS TEN TIMES WHAT IT COST ME TO BUILD. AND, THAT'S
AFTER LIVING IN IT FOR 35 YEARS !

I MOVED INTO A RESIDENCE I BOUGHT 10 YEARS AGO, WHAT I CALL MY
"RIVER COTTAGE" (ON THE BANKS OF THE CAPILANO) IN WEST
VANCOUVER. COME OVER IF YOU WISH. THE ADDRESS IS 479
RAINDANCE CRESCENT, WEST VANCOUVER, V7P 1C3. PHONE FIRST. 604
688 7103.

FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES I HAVE BEEN MAKING 700 GLOBAL
PRESENTATIONS REGARDING HIGH TECHNOLOGY, COMMUNICATIONS, SOCIAL &
ACCELERATING CHANGE. WEBSITE: drtomorrow@shaw.ca

For the next couple of months I received regular dispatches from cyberspace! While I was happpy to be on his short listserve, my inbox started to fill up on an almost daily basis! I just didn't have the time or energy to keep up with him. However, I checked this morning and I still have many of his missives that I will review.

Of course I now regret that I did not go and visit him in his 'river cottage'. But I am glad that I did reconnect if only to discover that he never lost any of the energy and creativity that made him one of the most remarkable people I have ever met in Vancouver. Goodbye Dr. Tomorrow.